Don’t keep the kids up too late Super Bowl night

Nicholls State University’s Gerald Grvenig dances Friday afternoon with Schriever Elementary School kindergartener Dashin James. The school hosted a Saints pep rally where members of the Nicholls and H.L. Bourgeois football teams danced with the students and signed autographs.

Matt Stamey/Staff

Daniel McBrideStaff Writer

Published: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 1, 2010 at 11:13 a.m.

HOUMA — Though many New Orleans-area schools have already made plans to close Feb. 8 — the day after the Saints face the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl — school officials in Terrebonne and Lafourche say local classrooms will be open for business as usual.

Administrators say attendance figures did not drop significantly after other Saints games this season, not even on the day following the National Championship-clenching game against the Minnesota Vikings.

About 1,400 students, or 7.5 percent of the approximately 19,000 enrolled, were absent Jan. 25, the day after Vikings game, said Linda Joseph, who oversees attendance in Terrebonne’s public schools.

A typical day’s absence is about 1,100, making the Jan. 25 numbers a little higher than usual.

“A few of them could have been caused by the Saints,” Joseph said. “A few of them could have been caused by illness.”

In Lafourche, Jan. 25 attendance figures were better.

“It was only down 2.5 percent in the entire parish,” said Frank Pasqua, Lafourche’s attendance supervisor. “It’s not significant.”

Sister Immaculata Paisant, superintendent Houma-Thibodaux Diocese schools, said Catholic-school students will have class as usual, unless public schools opt to close or otherwise alter schedules that day. The two share bus services.

At Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, spokesman Graham Harvey said he’s had no reports of low attendance on Jan. 25.

Campus-wide numbers aren’t available as attendance is handled by individual professors, he said.

Harvey said there are no plans to cancel Feb. 8 classes.

The same is true at Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma, said Student Affairs Dean Kristine Strickland.

“We’ve not had any of our faculty indicate that there’s been anything unusual,” she said. “We do see a lot more spirit, a lot more people wearing the jerseys.”

And though administrators say they won’t be surprised if students of all ages exhibit a little extra Saints spirit, they expect no disruptions before or after the game.

“We’re looking for all of them to enjoy the Saints winning the Super Bowl and come back to school that Monday ready to learn,” Joseph said.

Staff Writer Daniel McBride can be reached at 850-1148.

or daniel.mcbride@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @BayouSchools.

<p>HOUMA — Though many New Orleans-area schools have already made plans to close Feb. 8 — the day after the Saints face the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl — school officials in Terrebonne and Lafourche say local classrooms will be open for business as usual.</p><p>Administrators say attendance figures did not drop significantly after other Saints games this season, not even on the day following the National Championship-clenching game against the Minnesota Vikings.</p><p>About 1,400 students, or 7.5 percent of the approximately 19,000 enrolled, were absent Jan. 25, the day after Vikings game, said Linda Joseph, who oversees attendance in Terrebonne's public schools.</p><p>A typical day's absence is about 1,100, making the Jan. 25 numbers a little higher than usual.</p><p>“A few of them could have been caused by the Saints,” Joseph said. “A few of them could have been caused by illness.”</p><p>In Lafourche, Jan. 25 attendance figures were better.</p><p>“It was only down 2.5 percent in the entire parish,” said Frank Pasqua, Lafourche's attendance supervisor. “It's not significant.”</p><p>Sister Immaculata Paisant, superintendent Houma-Thibodaux Diocese schools, said Catholic-school students will have class as usual, unless public schools opt to close or otherwise alter schedules that day. The two share bus services.</p><p>At Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, spokesman Graham Harvey said he's had no reports of low attendance on Jan. 25.</p><p>Campus-wide numbers aren't available as attendance is handled by individual professors, he said.</p><p>Harvey said there are no plans to cancel Feb. 8 classes.</p><p>The same is true at Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma, said Student Affairs Dean Kristine Strickland.</p><p>“We've not had any of our faculty indicate that there's been anything unusual,” she said. “We do see a lot more spirit, a lot more people wearing the jerseys.”</p><p>And though administrators say they won't be surprised if students of all ages exhibit a little extra Saints spirit, they expect no disruptions before or after the game.</p><p>“We're looking for all of them to enjoy the Saints winning the Super Bowl and come back to school that Monday ready to learn,” Joseph said.</p><p>Staff Writer Daniel McBride can be reached at 850-1148.</p><p>or daniel.mcbride@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @BayouSchools.</p>